From beginning to end, Superman Returns is one of the most enjoyable films I have ever seen, and firmly reassures that The Man of Steel is BACK.
Let me start off by saying that it has been nearly 20yrs since The Man of Steel has appeared on movie screens across the world, and since I was too young to go see those movies in the theaters (except for Superman IV, but did ANYONE see that one in theaters?) this is my first time ever seeing Superman fly across movie screens. Needless to say....I have been waiting my whole life to write this review.
I got the chance to attend the special 10pm advance screening of Superman Returns, and after sitting thru 2hrs and 34min, and it being after 1am in the morning (I usually get up around 4:45am) I can honestly say I’m not even tired.
What is there for me to say about the movie that hasn’t already been said? I know this is supposed to be a review, but is there honestly anything left for me to contribute to the critical acclaim this film has already been receiving? The only thing that can really set me apart from the rest of the critics out there, is that I was a fan of the character before I was a fan of the movies, and I like to think that I “get” Superman.
The movie itself is a masterpiece from start to finish. For the entire duration of the film, you honestly find yourself getting lost in the world of Superman and all of his amazing abilities, and never once find yourself looking at your watch, or wondering how much time is left. Bryan Singer has once again surrounded himself with an amazing group of creative people, and thus produced something that fans have been waiting for, for nearly 20yrs....a GOOD Superman movie. To his credit, Singer just seems to understand these characters and the World they come from. He delivered a solid film with the first X-Men, proved he could top his own work with the second, and now has officially hit a grandslam with Superman Returns.
What Singer manages to do in this film is something that really hasn’t been seen before; He makes Superman answer the questions on people’s minds. Why did you leave? Where did you go? Will you leave again? Superman is forced to answer these questions and once again earn the trust from the city he calls home. Having been gone for 5 years The Man of Steel must face his biggest task yet...dealing with the fact that the woman he loves has moved on, and started a new life...a life without him. Despite all of his amazing abilities, even Superman can’t change the fact that Lois has a child and a fiance (though she won’t call him that) and he really doesn’t fit into the equation anymore.
At it’s core Superman Returns is not a story about a guy in a flashy suit saving the day, it’s actually more of a love story. Personally, I think women will love this film because the character of Superman has always been a romantic one. Here you have this God like being with all the power in the World who could essentially have any woman he wanted, and yet he focuses on one woman, and one woman only. The scenes in the film where Superman takes Lois flying for the first time in 5 years are amazing, and honestly what woman wouldn’t want that to be her? There is a particular spot in which Lois tries to tell Superman that Richard (James Marsden) is a pilot, and he takes her all the time, to which Superman simply replies “not like this” and Lois discovers they are hovering miles above Metropolis. It’s scenes like that, that really build the foundation of the movie, and play off of Singer’s goal of humanizing The Man of Steel. Yes he’s Superman, but does that mean he doesn’t get jealous? it’s almost funny to see him “compete” with Richard for Lois’ affection, but ultimately Superman is a noble man and he realizes his place in her life and accepts it.
The cast in this film are quite simply amazing. Brandon Routh does an absolutely fantastic job as both Clark Kent and Superman. Honestly when he is Clark Kent, you totally buy his gimmick because it’s so genuine, and pure. This film is meant to be a loose continuation of the first two Superman films, and in doing that there definitely had to be some similarities between Reeve’s portrayal, and now Routh’s. Routh does Reeve justice not only in duplicating some of his mannerisms such as the glasses push, or the tone of voice, but my God there are times in the film when you feel like you are looking at a young Christopher Reeve once again....the resemblance is UNCANNY. In the film Clark is a nerd, but he is isn’t running into walls, or constantly tripping over everything in his path...he’s very believable, and YES he does throw in a “swell” and a “gosh Lois” during the film. The portrayal of Superman was EXACTLY what I had been hoping for in the film. Again, I have to give Routh an amazing amount of credit for his performance because at no point during watching this did I think “who is this guy?” no, because the Superman in this film is exactly how I’ve always pictured him, almost like he stepped out of my collective imagination and onto the big screen. Whether it’s the tone of his voice, his facial expressions, the way he holds himself, or the way he looks at people with those piercing blue eyes, Routh is simply wonderful as The Man of Steel, and you will find yourself completely lost in the character. He is majestic, courageous, charming, and noble at the same time. Whether he’s talking to his Mother about what’s bothering him, or to a sleeping child he is watching over...Routh truly embodied everything that Superman is all about, and for that I commend him.
Kevin Spacey’s portrayal of Lex Luthor is equally as fantastic. Personally, I’m not a big fan of the Gene Hackman version since I feel he was more like a hired goon, rather than a criminal mastermind. The mistakes that I felt were made by Hackman’s portrayal have all been forgotten after seeing Kevin Spacey in the role. He is comical to a degree, but with a definite sense of cruelness about him. Spacey’s Lex is portrayed as a man who once believed he was untouchable, however spending the last 5 years in prison has forced him to realize he is not. He is hard, he is egotistical, he is arrogant, and he is BAD....essentially, he is perfect. Honestly I thought that the fact that Superman not squaring off with another superhuman character would bother me, but after seeing Lex, I completely forgot about it. His interactions with Superman during the film are fantastic, and Spacey really convinces you that his Luthor genuinely HATES Superman...it’s great.
The rest of the cast does a great job in their respective roles as well. Kate Bosworth, though not my first choice for the role of Lois Lane, does deliver a solid performance as the reporter, and at times actually had me laugh and think “wow that is Lois.” Her scenes with Superman, especially on the rooftop are amazing, and I truly believe that Routh and Bosworth should be commended on their onscreen chemistry. At no point was I in disbelief of these characters together. As far as I was concered, this WAS Lois and Superman....just like I’d always pictured them. Frank Langella does a great job as Perry White, and I’m actually glad he stepped in to fill the role vacated by Hugh Laurie (HOUSE), as I feel Laurie would’ve been more like J.Jonah Jameson from Spider-Man, and that’s just not right. I was really impressed with Sam Huntington’s portrayal of Jimmy Olsen in the film. Sam pretty much nailed the character in just about every aspect. Jimmy is portrayed as a good kid, with just a bit too much energy, and a fondness for Clark, who he has seemingly missed during his 5 year absence. James Marsden was surprisingly good as Richard White simply for the reason that he is a good man, and the only reason you want Lois to end up with Superman is because...well, he’s Superman, not because Richard is bad in any way.
Parker Posey wasn’t absolutely necessary for the film, but she didn’t take anything away from it either. She was comedic relief in certain spots, and your basic “girlfriend of a bad-guy” in others. The character of Jason White was pretty cut-and-dry for me. I’m still not sure how I feel about the end result with him, but it’s something I’ll have to live with and learn to get over. He was a kid, and once again served as a way to remind Superman of how the World has changed in his absence.
The special FX in Superman Returns are PHENOMENAL. From the first time we see Superman save the day, until the very last scene of the movie, you will be in awe of how the FX are presented. The airplane rescue in the beginning of the film is jaw-dropping, the burglary stop is amazing, and features one of the most incredible FX sequences I’ve ever seen (and also answers a certain questions that some Superman fans have had for awhile). The runaway car scene was fantastic in that not only did Superman strike a pose that was inspired from Action Comics #1, but the way that he handled the situation afterwards was classic....just another showcase for the characters nobility and charm.
Without a doubt one of the best aspects of this film is the level of power Superman displays throughout it. We all know Superman is strong, but just how strong is he? Well, this film certainly answers that question in one of the best (if not THE best) display of superhuman strength in any film to date. I won’t spoil it for you, but Superman is STRONG, and he knows it.
One part of this film that I think will appeal to everyone is the level of heart it has. Superman left Earth for 5 years without giving any kind of explanation, but when he does return everyone in Metropolis (with the exception of a few) is overjoyed to have their hero back. One particular scene that killed me was when Superman was rushed into the hospital, and the people of Metropolis eagerly awaited news of his condition. Outside waiting with the rest of the people is Martha Kent, Clark Kent’s adopted Mother. Why this scene was so touching was because it really shows you to what extent Superman has gone to, to protect the people he loves with his secret identity. Martha stands in the crowd, looking distraught as she watches her son—a son no one knows she has, cling to life. In an instance like this we can all understand the overwhelming need to be with the one you love as they fight for their life, but Martha cannot out of fear for exposing Superman’s real identity to the World, and instead of being the loving Mother that she desperately wants to be, she’s instead reduced to just another face in the crowd....it really is a touching moment.
After seeing this film, one thing above all becomes apparent to everyone. It’s not that Superman is back, or that Brandon Routh has proved himself as new Man of Steel (although those do become apparent as well), it’s that the makers of this film showed love and respect not only for the previous films before it, but for the character and all he has stood for, for over 60 years. Bryan Singer and Co have achieved something many people thought just wasn’t possible. After the countless scripts, Directors, actors, and rumors I can now safely say that the character that I fell in love with as a child is BACK, and he’s back in a big, big way....and I couldn’t be happier.
As I sit here and wrap up this review (thank God right?), I can’t help but have a huge smile plastered across my face. Fans everywhere have reason to rejoice after seeing Superman Returns. Not only do we have a new Man of Steel in Brandon Routh, but Warner Bros. FINALLY got it right and handed this property off to a group of people that were more than capable of doing justice to Superman. To sum it all up boys and girls, The Man of Steel is BACK, and after a 20 year absence he’s here to stay.